Antonio Conte lauded Harry Kane for his character after the win over Wolves
(Picture: Tottenham Hotspur FC via Getty I)Antonio Conte says every player in his squad would swap personal achievements for winning a trophy after Harry Kane made history with the only goal in Tottenham's 1-0 win over Wolves.
Kane became the top scorer for a single club in Premier League history, surpassing Manchester City legend Sergio Aguero with his 185th Spurs goal in the top-flight and 250th overall.
His 64th-minute header from a corner settled a tight game which Conte admitted Spurs might have lost last season and ensured the Italian's side have already taken seven points more than last season from the corresponding fixtures.
Conte said Kane has to make the difference for Spurs and revealed he was surprised by the England captain's selfless work off the ball.
“Harry is a player who has to make the difference, for his quality, for his ability," Conte stated post-match.
“We're talking about a really world-class striker who can be dangerous in all aspects on the pitch. We tried to exploit him, to give him the possibility to score.
“For me, the big surprise about Harry is not only on the football aspect but the person. We're talking about a really good person, a really good man.
“He's always ready to help the team, to work for the team. Usually when you have this type of player, they can be a bit lazy without the ball. Because they like to play with the ball but without the ball [they think], ‘I don't run because I have to be fresh when we have the ball’. This was a bit surprise with me, working with Harry.
“I know he reached another big achievement, a personal big achievement. But we're trying to work together, with the team. And always with Harry to have not only personal achievements - like last season for example when [Heung-min] Son was top scorer in the league - but to try to have a big achievement together for the team and the club.
“I think every single player is ready to exchange a personal achievement to reach a trophy. We're working on this aspect. The path is difficult, the path is long but we have to try to do this."
Kane headed home Ivan Perisic's flick from Son's corner in what looked like a move straight from the training ground and playbook of Spurs’ new set-piece coach Gianni Vio.
“I have to be very clear,” Conte continued. “In my opinion last season this type of game, you weren't so prepared to find this difficulty and probably this type of game you're going to lose at the end. In fact last season we lost at home against Southampton, at home against Wolverhampton and against Chelsea.
“Now against these three teams, I was really worried when I saw the schedule,” he laughed.
Perisic, a free signing from Inter Milan in the summer, was decisive on his full debut, winning the corner for the goal before flicking on Son's ball at the near post to assist Kane.
“It was the same for the rest of the team,” Conte said of the Croatian's performance. “He struggled in the first half, with the rest of the team he improved a lot. I have seen the Ivan Perisic I know from Inter.
“When we were together at Inter. For us he is very important because we are talking about a player with a great experience. A player that won a lot in his past, has played in an important team. He can bring experience.”
